Photo Credit: Anna Thieret
New Member Welcome and Member Recognition Sunday – December 3, 2023
Please join us Sunday as we welcome 5 new members to our fellowship community.
We are so pleased to present our new members here for the first time documented in the Greensheet ! We are so thrilled you have joined our community. On Sunday we will recognize and welcome each new member and also recognize special members of the year in terms of above and beyond service !
Our new members have prepared an individual short biography. We asked them to share what they want other members to know about them. We look forward to welcoming you and agree to support you as a member of our community in our tradition of caring and deep engagement.
Welcome Sue Poarch
I’m 66 years old, and I have one child, a son, who lives in Moorhead, MN, and works in Fargo, ND. David and my daughter-in-law, Angela, have two sons, ages 7 and 12, and a daughter, 17 months.
I grew up in Rapid City and Brookings, SD, and Lincoln, NE, the daughter of two WWII veterans. My mom was a bookkeeper and newspaper teletype setter; my dad, a wire-editor-turned-journalism-professor. My mom died of breast cancer at 51 when I, the only child left at home, was 17.
I am a graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The better part of my career was spent as a technical writer and editor in Fort Worth, TX (Tandy Corporation) and Logan, UT (Spillman Technologies). After the latter company moved to Salt Lake City in 2005, I spent three years as an elementary school parapro. That was a lovely time, enjoying the kids’ enthusiasm and helping them learn.
In 2009, I returned to Athens with my husband, Mike, who had earned his journalism PhD here in 1996.
I share my too-large house with a surprisingly spry 12-year-old yorkie-beagle named Fiddich, short for Glenfiddich Whiskey. I enjoy walking, recreational biking, and occasionally shooting hoops at the Community Center.
Despite having joined Methodist and Presbyterian congregations as an adult, I never became entirely comfortable with Christian theology. I started attending UUFA following my husband’s death from kidney cancer in January 2022. I am grateful to be part of such an accepting and committed community.
Welcome Kathy Tokarz
Retired baker/phlebotomist. Born and grew up in California. Moved to ohio in 1977. I have 5 children, 8 grands and 2 greats, all perfect in every way!
I’ve met so many great folks since moving to Athens. I especially love the UUFA. So happy I found it!
Welcome Anna Mather
Anna is a person who is full of hope, love, and unbounded enthusiasm for life. During her adult life, she has sought hopeful communities of faith (like me), often visiting different churches, but not settling into a single community. She also found resonance with the UU principles and the Athens Fellowship community. After our first visit to the Athens Fellowship, Anna sought out the 7 Principles and put them on the refrigerator door, so we could learn about and meditate on them in our everyday. Anna is grateful to have a place where people are open, and vulnerable, supportive, and free to be themselves.
Welcome Pete Mather
I’ve always been a seeker. I’ve wanted to find meaning in my work life, my home life, and in other places where I could find community. Places of worship have been among the settings where I developed important relationships throughout my life. When Anna and I first attended the Athens UU Fellowship, we immediately connected with the people and the faith orientation. I remember reading over the 7 Principles and thinking that, for the first time, I found a faith home that expressed values that I can honestly embrace. During our months participating in community, I have continued to be spiritually fed and nourished by the authenticity, social commitments, and independence of our Fellowship friends.
Special Fund to Assist Evan, Susan, Lauren and William Young – The Young Family has suffered a terrible accident. Their youngest, William is injured and in need of special support once he comes home from hospital. There is a Go Fund Me account set up for assistance. If you would like to contribute, we can take a special collection at UUFA – please put your donation in a sealed envelope and Barb Harrison will see that it gets to the Youngs. If you prefer a non-tech method just leave it with Barb or send along to the fellowship and we will see that it gets to them. The total need is $80,000. Here is the link to the Go Fund Me account:
Holiday Giving Options for our Community
- Please remember there will be a shelf stable food collection box at UUFA that will be given to the UCM Center food pantry . Please bring any items that you would like to donate and the total collection will be given to UCM just after the New Year !
- Our social justice partner SEORA (Southeastern Ohio Rainbow Alliance) is collecting unwrapped toys between now and December 9 for Athens County Children Services to distribute to families in need. If you’d like to donate items, please bring them to a Sunday service! Or contact Susan W. and she’ll pick up donations from you. suusanw.uu@gmail.com / 240-305-0860 Please bring a new, unwrapped item for children in the community. Final deadline is December 9th. There is also a “Drag Show ” at Athens UnCorked beginning at 8pm that same evening if you’d like to attend and take your item to this event! Doors open at 7:00, show at 8:00
Unitarian Universalist Service Committee
- UUSC Guest At Your Table – Please consider giving to the UUSC this season. More information can be found here. https://www.uusc.org/resources/congregations/gayt/
- See Barb Harrison if you have questions.
Upcoming Services at UUFA:
Member Recognition Sunday 12/3
Music Sunday – 12/10
TBA – 12/17
Christmas Eve Service – Sun. 11/24